[Home]Interference

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Interference is the overlapping of two or more waves resulting in a new wave pattern.

The 'principle of superposition of waves' states that 'the resultant displacement at a point is equal to the sum of the displacements of different waves at that point'. If a crest of a wave meets a crest of another wave at the same point then the crests interefere constructively and the resultant wave amplitude? is greater. If a crest of a wave meets a trough then they interfere destructively, and the overall amplitude is decreased.

Interference is involved in [Thomas Young]?'s double-slit experiment where coherent light (light which is in the same phase) interferes to produce an interference pattern.

See also interferometer.


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Edited October 8, 2001 11:28 pm by DrBob (diff)
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